THE new Hapton play area is to be officially opened this Saturday, at 11am.

The new play area, which has been built on the former bowling green in Hapton Park, provides challenging play equipment for children of all abilities and includes a zip wire, a six metre high space net and a half-pipe skate ramp, together with plenty of traditional items of play equipment such as swings, slides and roundabouts.

The play area cost just over £60,000, with £38,972 awarded by The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund and £22,693 contributed by Hapton Parish Council and Burnley Borough Council’s Ward Opportunities Fund.

Tim Birbeck, chair of Hapton Parish Council, said: “Improving Hapton Recreation Ground is something that the parish council has been working on for many years.

“The parish council would like to thank Veolia Environmental trust and councillor Joanne Greenwood for her help in securing the grant funding for the play area.”